E-Paper
Slain J&K sarpanch did not follow protocol: Police
The sarpanch who was killed by terrorists last night had left his official accommodation in Srinagar without informing police, says Vijay Kumar, IGP, Kashmir
A village council chief killed by terrorists on Friday had disregarded security protocols and left his official accommodation in Kulgam districtwithout informing police, the inspector general of police of Kashmir said on Saturday.
“The sarpanch who was killed by terrorists last night had left his official accommodation in Srinagar without informing police,” Vijay Kumar, inspector general of police, Kashmir, said on the sidelines of a public event in Srinagar.
Terrorists find panchayat members to be easy targets, he said. “The panchayat members who face militant threats will be provided security and safe accommodation,” Kumar said.
Top security officers held a high-level meeting at Kulgam in south Kashmir after three panchayat members were killed in the district in recent days.
Unidentified gunmen opened fire at Shabir Ahmad Mir outside his residence at Okay village on Friday evening. He died on the spot.
On March 9, another village council head, Sameer Bhat, was shot dead by terrorists on the outskirts of Srinagar. A week earlier, terrorists shot dead a panchayat member, Mohammad Yaqub Dar, in the Srandoo area of Kulgam district.
Leaders of mainstream political parties have blamed the government for failing to secure lives of the political workers. Meanwhile, political leaders and workers have said despite completion of necessary procedures, they haven’t been given security.
